Nigeria under siege as report reveals over 30,000 armed Fulani nationwide

A new report by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom has raised fresh international concern over worsening insecurity in Nigeria, estimating that about 30,000 armed Fulani militants are operating across parts of the country and contributing significantly to violence, displacement, and religious tensions.

The report, released in May 2026 and titled “Nonstate Violators of Religious Freedom in Nigeria: Fulani Militants,” described the groups as among the most lethal non-state actors driving attacks across the Middle Belt and parts of southern Nigeria.

According to the commission, these armed groups operate in loosely organised cells ranging from small units of about 10 fighters to larger formations of up to 1,000 members, with no unified command structure.

It alleged that violence linked to the groups accounted for the highest number of deaths among religious communities in Nigeria over the past year, surpassing casualties attributed to organised insurgent groups and criminal gangs.

The report further claimed that while many attacks targeted Christian communities, Muslim populations have also suffered killings, kidnappings and raids linked to the same armed actors.

Pattern of Violence and Rural Attacks

The commission stated that the groups often operate in rural and hard-to-reach communities, using motorcycles, firearms and machetes to carry out night raids designed to instil fear and force displacement.

“They often wield machetes and descend on vulnerable communities during the night, eliciting terror as a way to force victims to quickly leave and to achieve greater control of desired land,” the report said.

It also alleged that some attacks were deliberately timed around Christian holidays such as Christmas and Easter to heighten psychological impact.

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The report estimated that at least 1.3 million people have been displaced across central Nigeria as a result of violence linked to Fulani militant activity and related armed groups.

Many of the displaced, it added, are currently housed in overcrowded camps with limited access to food, healthcare and security.

Major Incidents Cited

Among incidents highlighted was a June 2025 attack in Benue State in which at least 200 people were reportedly killed, including internally displaced persons in a Catholic mission.

The report also referenced the Yelwata killings in Benue, where more than 200 Christians were allegedly killed, with thousands displaced.

It further noted attacks in 2026, including killings in Niger State and a deadly assault on Holy Trinity Parish in Kaduna State, where three worshippers were killed and 11 people abducted, including a priest.

In another incident cited, armed men allegedly kidnapped an imam and seven worshippers in Plateau State, demanding ransom payments.

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Government Response and Security Operations

The report acknowledged recent government actions aimed at addressing insecurity, including the classification of armed groups, including Fulani militants, as terrorist organisations by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in December 2025.

It also referenced coordinated security operations that reportedly led to the rescue of 309 kidnap victims in Kogi and Kwara States in January 2026, as well as the arrest of 129 suspects and the killing of 55 others.

In addition, several northern state governments launched ranching initiatives in 2025 aimed at reducing clashes between herders and farming communities.

Despite these measures, the commission said insecurity remains deeply entrenched across central Nigeria.

Experts Divided Over Causes

Security analyst, Adib Saani, noted that the crisis reflects a complex mix of environmental pressure, weak governance, and criminal exploitation of communal tensions.

He argued that the lack of effective rural policing and land management systems has allowed armed groups to operate with relative ease across remote communities.

Another analyst, Kabiru Adamu, said the scale and coordination of attacks suggest that the situation has evolved beyond isolated farmer-herder clashes into a broader security threat involving multiple criminal networks.

However, some researchers caution against framing the crisis purely in ethnic or religious terms, warning that such narratives may deepen existing divisions.

They argue that climate pressures, population growth, weak justice systems and economic hardship are all contributing factors that complicate the conflict landscape.

The report also criticised what it described as slow or inadequate responses by security agencies to attacks on vulnerable communities, alleging delays in intervention during several incidents.

It further cited claims from some Christian groups alleging bias in security responses, although these claims remain contested within Nigeria’s broader security discourse.

The commission also referenced scrutiny directed at the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, which has denied any involvement in or support for violent activities.